HR.MS. SCHIEDAM (M860)

The Hr.Ms. Schiedam (M860) is a Dutch minehunter built by Van der Giessen-de Noord. She started her service in 1986. The vessel is 51 metres long and 9 metres wide, has a maximum speed of 15 kts and a maximum range of 3,500 miles at 10 kts. The M860 is armed by one GIAT 20F-2 20mm gun, has a Thales DUBM 21B, hull mounted sonar. The most remarkable feature of the minehunters of the Alkmaar-class, to which the Schiedam belongs, is the lack of steel. The hull is made of polyester and the further contruction of the ship is made of aluminium. This because many seamines react to disturbances in the magnetic field. Due to cost saving at the ministry of defense, four of the original fifteen vessels of the Alkmaar-class have been sold to the Latvian government. The Hr.Ms. Schiedam has entered the Port of Rotterdam this morning. She will take berth at the navy berth in the Haringvliet.

Source: Royal Dutch Navy

HR.MS. HARLINGEN (M854)

The Hr.Ms. Harlingen (M854) is a former Dutch minehunter built by Van der Giessen-de Noord in 1983. She is 51 metres long and 9 metres wide, has a maximum speed of 15 kts and a maximum range of 3,500 miles at 10 kts. The M854 is armed by one GIAT 20F-2 20mm gun, has a Thales DUBM 21B, hull mounted sonar. The most remarkable feature of the minehunters of the Alkmaar-class, to which the Harlingen belongs, is the lack of steel. The hull is made of polyester and the further contruction of the ship is made of aluminium. This because many seamines react to disturbances in the magnetic field. The vessel was decommisionned in 2003 and sold to Latvia.

The Hr.Ms. Harlingen has entered the Port of Rotterdam this morning.